In a world where most families are making their homes more automated with high tech devices, one mom has decided to go the opposite route—all in the name of teaching her kids how to actually connect with other humans.

Oregon based mom of two Brittney Mast and her husband had noticed that her kids were so used to using FaceTime, that they didn’t actually know how to hold a conversation on the phone, which made both parents feel like smartphones should probably wait until they were older.

And yet, they still wanted the kiddos to be able to contact their grandparents. Plus, having no phone for when they were at the house alone didn’t seem like a good idea. Not to mention this didn’t really address the “being able to hold a conversation” issue.

@momsoforegon/Instagram,

That’s when they had the idea to install a home phone. You know, the landlines from yesteryear. Well almost like the ones from yesteryear. Mast told Today that she did opt for an internet-enabled phone, since installing an actual landline is “annoying nowadays.”

So far, the experience with “old” technology has been a success. Rather than seeing it as a chore, Mast told Today that they saw it as a “toy,’ and thoroughly enjoyed learning the ins and outs of phone etiquette.

“They love calling Grammy all on their own 🥰” Mast wrote in an Instagram post.

@momsoforegon/Instagram,

This is an interesting sentiment. We hear so many lamentations about kids today being “addicted” to technology and abysmally uninterested in social connections, but, as with most things, infusing a bit of novelty can get kids interested in a nanosecond.

And apparently, Mast isn’t the only one to try—and find success with—incorpating "ancient technology" back into the home.

“Yes! We got one when our kids could stay home alone. My girls are 14 and still don’t have cell phones. We will get them flip phones next year when they start high school. 👏👏👏👏” one fellow parent wrote.

Another shared, “Yes!!!! We did this. I hope this becomes a trend over the next few years. Force these kids to have to have actual conversations! 3 ways calling, no texts.😂”

And the folks who haven’t tried it…well, they’re sold on the idea, for sure.

“We will be doing this too! Can not wait!!!!”

“I love this! Can’t wait till we’re in this phase.”

It’s great to have devices like Google home and Alexa, but we all seem to be feeling the toll of a completely streamlined lifestyle. At this point, devices that force us to slow down are a major luxury. And that especially goes for kids, whose developing brains truly cannot handle such constant stimulation. As we strive for a more balanced relationship with technology as a society, we can probably expect a resurgence of a few more retro items.

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In fact, Mast apparently has introduced a few more throwbacks, like CD players for her kids' bedroom.They also might be getting some secondhand Gameboys. Takes you back, doesn't it?

You can find out even more about Mast’s home phone experiment on her Substack here.

For many of us, telling our friends and family that we love them is second nature. Every time someone leaves the house, "Love you!" Before bed at night, "Love you!" Getting off a call with them, "Love you!"

That's all well and good until that sweetly ingrained habit spills over into your work life. Especially when you're talking to an important client, where the boundaries of professional conduct are particularly important to uphold. (Do you feel the cringe coming?)

I Love You Elf GIF by MOODMANGiphy

A woman shared an oh-so-human story about absent-mindedly telling a client she loved him, and his thoughtful response has people cheering.

"Accidentally said 'Love you!' at the end of a call with an important client yesterday," wrote a Reddit user. "I heard him giggle as I hung up, and I was mortified. Today, I saw he emailed me this:"

The email began, "Hey—Just wanted to say that I didn't mean to laugh at you when you accidentally signed off on our call with a 'love you.' I just found it funny because I've definitely done that before, and I know it happens."

Okay, phew, he understood that the laughing was mortifying and he wasn't bothered by the "love you." But then he added the absolute best thing he could have said about the situation:

"I'm glad you have enough love in your life that that response comes naturally. If anything, you should be proud of that. :)"

Then he mercifully resumed their professional conversation. "Have a great weekend! We'll follow up about my call with Chris on Wednesday, as discussed."

"Love you!" Oops.Photo credit: Canva

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